Little was mentioned about Toyota's lowest GHG emitting vehicles called HEVs and PHEVs which they make millions of today. Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – May 12, 2021 2022 Toyota BZ4X BEV Concept - bZ stands for Beyond Zero Earlier today, Toyota stated that their FCV and future BEVs will make up to 15 percent and HEV/PHEV sales will make up another 55 percent of U.S. sales by 2030. Globally, Toyota expects 25 percent of their worldwide production to be FCVs and BEVs. While late to the game, nobody knows electrification of the automotive sector better than Toyota and finally, they have fully committed to making BEVs a key part of their lineup. This future lineup will feature 15 dedicated BEVs, including seven carrying the bZ (Beyond Zero) brand moniker. In addition, Toyota intends to bring electrification to its pickup truck lineup in the near future, including hybrid and BEV powertrains. This diverse portfolio of electrified products will help propel Toyota toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Earlier this year, Toyota unveiled the bZ4X concept, a BEV SUV that will go into production in 2022. It is jointly developed with Subaru and built on the new e-TNGA BEV- dedicated platform. The concept incorporates Toyota’s typical quality, durability and long-term reliability (QDR). The Toyota bZ4X SUV concept appears to be RAV4/Venza sized compact CUV built on a long wheelbase with short overhangs. The low position of the instrument panel and the location of the meters above the steering wheel help increase visibility. Toyota plans to produce the Toyota bZ4X in Japan and China; it hopes to begin worldwide sales of the model by the middle of 2022. U.S. product details will be shared at a later date. 2022 Toyota BZ4X BEV Concept Driver Interior In 1997, Toyota introduced the first generation all-electric RAV4-EV, followed by the Prius. In 2015, Toyota launched its first FCEV, the maligned Mirai. Within that time frame, Toyota has adapted hybrid electric powertrains to a majority of its vehicle platforms outside the trucks and largest SUV/CUVs. There are now 17 electrified vehicles in the company’s U.S. lineup, including HEVs, PHEVs, and FCEV, with many more planned going forward. Over the past 24 years, Toyota and Lexus hybrids have saved 139 million tons of GHG emissions vs their std. gasoline and diesel engine fueled counterparts which has helped slow global warming. The company’s approach seeks steady and substantial carbon reductions every year until the recharging infrastructure and costs of BEVs make them an attractive, affordable choice for all consumers everywhere. While BEVs are all the buzz and Toyota has done everything it could to stay the course on actual automotive GHG reductions with a number of HEV/PHEVs, the market has spoken. An HEV/PHEV actually reduces GHG emissions more so than most BEVs due to the simple fact that drivers are not having to carry the very heavy large traction battery with them for each mile traveled. The average U.S. commute is 32 miles round trip in which a PHEV like the Prius (25-miles of AER) and RAV4 Primes (42 miles of AER) would be driven on electricity for the vast majority of its life while not having to carry an additional 1,500 or more pounds of batteries. Regarding Toyota's continuing FCV push, well, at $15.00/kg here in San Diego, it is a non-starter for most unless gasoline prices climb to a stable $8.50 or more per gallon. The all-new 2021 Mirai's onboard 5 kg storage costs $75 to drive 400-miles by comparison to a similar sized 46 mpg rated Camry Hybrid which consumes 8.7 gallons at $3.75/gallon ($32.62) to travel the same 400-miles. The other side of the coin is all Mirai purchasers receive $15,000 of free fuel over the next 6-years so fuel prices really do not enter into the equation. Toyota is committed to help solving BEV infrastructure and cost challenges while delivering mobility that best fits the many needs of consumers. They also stated they encourage lawmakers to craft regulations that encourage consideration for all types of environmentally friendly, carbon-reducing vehicles so we can all move even faster toward a carbon neutral society for all.
I don't always agree with Elon Musk, but he's right about hydrogen. I'm not seeing how Toyota is going to make all this FCV stuff work out. They need to get going on their BEVs, but I do give them credit for all their hybrids. I (still) think hybrids are (still) underrated compared to the shiny object of the EV, even though I own one, and for most people's uses a better bang for the buck in terms of achieving better economy. I agree with you about the weight problem, at least for the next few years. But the prices of rhodium and platinum (and epidemic of CC thefts) may kill hybrids and PHEVs off prematurely. Time will tell.
I just saw this story over at cnet. https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/toyota-mirai-845-mile-guinness-world-record/ The math is more favorable for fuel cells with a little (or lot) of hypermiling. Wayne Gerdes and Bob Winger credited with the record run. p.s. Sorry for the huge images when seen on something bigger than a smart phone display... it looks normal/good on my Android phone.
Congratulations. Now, how would the run compare to a hypermiled midsized sedan, hybrid one, or hypermiled hybrid one instead of the EPA rating of a V6 one?
Hi Trollbait: The Camry Hybrid LE at 70 mpg could reach 910 miles on its 13.2 gallon cap fuel tank. Wayne
